Sax in space: French astronaut delighted with birthday gift

by MARCIA DUNN, AP Aerospace Writer

This image posted by French astronaut Thomas Pesquet on Twitter on March 12, 2017, shows him with a saxophone he received for his birthday aboard the International Space Station. (Courtesy Thomas Pesquet via AP)

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. (AP) —

This is one cosmically cool sax — and saxophone player.

France's musical astronaut Thomas Pesquet is enjoying a special birthday present delivered to him up at the International Space Station. The saxophone arrived in a SpaceX cargo ship on Feb. 23, and his crewmates kept it hidden until his 39th birthday on Feb. 27.